Significance of the Seventh Day Sabbath in Christianity

The significance of the seventh-day Sabbath in Christianity is a contested topic across various traditions. The debate centers on whether the Sabbath remains a binding obligation for Christians, and if so, how it should be observed.

Historical and Biblical Context

The Sabbath is first introduced in the biblical account of creation, where God rests on the seventh day after creating the world (Genesis 2:2-3). The fourth commandment in Exodus 20:8-11 and Deuteronomy 5:12-15 reiterates the importance of observing the Sabbath, commanding Israelites to remember and keep the day holy ^{[1, 2]}. The Sabbath is described as a day of rest, not just for the Israelites, but also for their servants and livestock ^[3].

Positions on the Sabbath

Continuation of Sabbath Observance

Some Christian traditions, such as certain Protestant and Eastern Orthodox groups, argue that the Sabbath remains a relevant and binding command for Christians. They point to the biblical account of creation and the reiteration of the commandment in the Decalogue as evidence of its perpetual nature ^{[6, 7]}. John Chrysostom, an Eastern Orthodox theologian, emphasizes the importance of the Sabbath as a day of rest and worship ^[9]. Charles Hodge, one theologian, argues that the Sabbath has been observed continuously by the people of God since creation, and its observance is a divine institution ^[14].

Abrogation or Transformation of Sabbath Observance

Other Christian traditions, such as Reformed and Methodist/Wesleyan groups, interpret the Sabbath commandment in light of the New Testament. They argue that the Sabbath is no longer a binding obligation for Christians, having been fulfilled or superseded by Christ's work. John Calvin, one theologian, suggests that the Sabbath was a shadow or type that has been fulfilled in Christ, and that Christians are not bound by its literal observance ^[13]. Adam Clarke, a Methodist/Wesleyan commentator, notes that the Sabbath is "at the very threshold of all religion," but its observance is not necessarily tied to a specific day ^[11].

Shared Ground

Despite their differences, most Christian traditions agree that the concept of rest and worship is essential to the Christian faith. The idea of a day of rest and worship is rooted in the biblical account of creation and is seen as a way to honor God and refresh oneself ^{[4, 5]}. The Sabbath is also seen as a symbol of liberation and freedom, as it commemorates God's rest after creation and Israel's liberation from Egypt ^[15].

Divergence in Interpretation

The divergence in interpretation stems from differing hermeneutical approaches to the biblical text. Some traditions emphasize the literal observance of the Sabbath commandment, while others interpret it in light of Christ's teachings and the New Testament. The historical context of the early Christian church and its relationship to Jewish traditions also plays a role in shaping the various positions on the Sabbath ^{[8, 10]}.

The Jewish tradition, as represented by the Targum Jonathan, provides additional context for understanding the Sabbath. The Targum emphasizes the importance of the Sabbath as a day of rest and worship, highlighting its significance in Jewish practice ^[12].

Sources

Exodus “Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to Yahweh. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall surely be put to death. -- Exodus 31:15”
Deuteronomy “but the seventh day is a Sabbath to Yahweh your God, in which you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates; that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you. -- Deuteronomy 5:14”
Exodus “Exodus 20:10 (BBE) — But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; on that day you are to do no work, you or your son or your daughter, your man-servant or your woman-servant, your cattle or the man from a strange country who is living among you:”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Seven — The frequent recurrence of certain numbers in the sacred literature of the Hebrews is obvious to the most superficial reader, but seven so far surpasses the rest, both in the frequency with which it recurs and in the importance of the objects with which it is associated, that it may fairly be termed the representative symbolic number. The influence of the number seven was not restricted to the Hebrews; it prevailed among the Persians, ancient Indians, Greeks and Romans. The peculiarity of the Hebrew view consists in the special dignity of the seventh, and not ”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Seven — This number occurs frequently in Scripture, and in such connections as lead to the supposition that it has some typical meaning. On the seventh day God rested, and hallowed it (Gen. 2:2, 3). The division of time into weeks of seven days each accounts for many instances of the occurrence of this number. This number has been called the symbol of perfection, and also the symbol of rest. "Jacob's seven years' service to Laban; Pharaoh's seven fat oxen and seven lean ones; the seven branches of the golden candlestick; the seven trumpets and the seven priests who s”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Sabbath — (shabbath), "a day of rest," from shabath "to cease to do to," "to rest"). The name is applied to divers great festivals, but principally and usually to the seventh day of the week, the strict observance of which is enforced not merely in the general Mosaic code, but in the Decalogue itself. The consecration of the Sabbath was coeval with the creation. The first scriptural notice of it, though it is not mentioned by name, is to be found in (Genesis 2:3) at the close of the record of the six-days creation. There are not wanting indirect evidences of its obser”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Sabbath — (Heb. verb shabbath, meaning "to rest from labour"), the day of rest. It is first mentioned as having been instituted in Paradise, when man was in innocence (Gen. 2:2). "The sabbath was made for man," as a day of rest and refreshment for the body and of blessing to the soul. It is next referred to in connection with the gift of manna to the children of Israel in the wilderness (Ex. 16:23); and afterwards, when the law was given from Sinai (20:11), the people were solemnly charged to "remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy." Thus it is spoken of as an ins”
Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 4:10: 4:10 have rested from their labors: See Exod 20:8-11. • just as God did: Gen 2:2.”
CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: Index of Scripture References Genesis 1:11 1:11 1:26 1:26 1:26 1:27 1:27 1:27 1:31 1:31 2:2 2:7 2:17 2:17 2:18 2:23 2:24 2:24 2:24 3:5 3:16 3:24 4 4:9 4:14 6:2 6:3 6:4 6:9 6:12 7:7 8:21 12:1 12:4 12:16 13:10 13:10-11 14:14 14:21-23 15:16 16:5 16:6 17:8 18:11 18:12 18:14 18:21 19:13 19:14 19:24 21:10 21:12 21:12 22:7-8 22:16 22:18 22:18 24:1-67 24:22 24:65 25:21 25:21 26:4 27:46 28:1 28:13 31:42 31:45 32:48 35:18 37:9-10 37:20 39:1 39:6 40:4 40:7 40:8 40:14-15 40:22 41 41:16 42:36 43:14 43:30 45:5 48:15-16 49:9 64:28 Exodus 2:11 2”
CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Acts & Romans: Index of Scripture References Genesis 1:26 2:10 2:18 2:21 2:21 2:24 2:24 2:24 3:5 3:6 3:11 3:16 3:16 3:16 3:19 3:19 4 4:2 4:6 4:7 4:7 4:7 4:9 4:9 4:10 4:10 4:10 4:11 4:14 6:3 6:3 6:9 9:5 9:20 9:22 11:8 11:31 12:3 12:7 12:7 14:14 15:12 15:13-14 18:3 18:3 18:3 18:7 18:17 18:19 18:27 18:33 21:12 22:3 22:18 25:33 27:27 27:41 27:45 28:12 28:20 29:23 30:1-2 31:7 31:15 31:40 32:10 32:21 32:28 32:29 33:19 37:18 39:1-20 40:23 41:40 41:42-43 42:21 45:5 45:5 45:9 45:24 48:16 49:7 60:8 Exodus 1:14 1:22 2:11 2:13 2:15 2:22 3:1 3:2 3:2 4:10 4:22 5:2 9:11 17:4 18:2”
Leviticus (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Leviticus 23:3: The seventh day is the Sabbath - This, because the first and greatest solemnity, is first mentioned. He who kept not this, in the most religious manner, was not capable of keeping any of the others. The religious observance of the Sabbath stands at the very threshold of all religion. See Clarke's note on Gen 2:3.”
Targum Jonathan (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Targum Jonathan, Targum Jonathan on II Samuel 16:12: It may be that the tear of my eye will be revealed before the LORD, and that the LORD will repay me with good for his cursing this day.””
CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 44: ); meaning by body the whole essence of the truth, as is well explained in that passage. This is not contented with one day, but requires the whole course of our lives, until being completely dead to ourselves, we are filled with the life of God. Christians, therefore, should have nothing to do with a superstitious observance of days. 32. The two other cases ought not to be classed with ancient shadows, but are adapted to every age. The sabbath being abrogated, there is still room among us, first, to assemble on stated days for the”
CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 46: of the week as the day for religious worship. Thus from the creation, in unbroken succession, the people of God have, in obedience to the original command, devoted one clay in seven to the worship of the only living and true God. It is hard to conceive of a stronger argument than this for the perpetual obligation of the Sabbath as a divine institution. It is not worth while to stop to answer the objection, that the record of this uninterrupted observance of the Sabbath is incomplete. History does not record everything. We find the fountai”
Leviticus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Leviticus 19:30: 19:30 Sabbath days: The Hebrew word translated “Sabbath” (shabbath) is related to a verb which means simply “to cease,” implying rest from one’s labor. The Sabbath commemorated God’s resting on the seventh day after he had completed his work of creation (Gen 1:31; 2:1-3). It began at sundown on the sixth day. With the exodus from Egypt, the Sabbath gained covenantal significance (Exod 16:23-25; 31:13). Because only free people, not slaves, had a regular day of rest, the Sabbath became symbolic of Israel’s liberation from bondage in Egypt (see Deut 5:13-15). • ”

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